Cathy Horyn intervewing Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton. Photo Courtesy of Nowness.

Welcome back – we hope you are all looking forward to the Spring semester! As you begin your new classes and embark on exciting adventures, we want to remind you to let us know about all of the amazing things that you’re working on! If you have a class project that you’re really proud of, or something you’re working on outside of school, email us for a chance to be featured!

Additionally, we want to encourage all of our students to write for Fashion School Daily! Think of it as a platform to hone your skills and write about the exciting worlds of fashion, pop culture, San Francisco, New York, and beyond! If you dream of being the next Cathy Horyn, Suzy Menkes, or Hamish Bowles – this is your first step.

Please send any and all pitches to fashionschooldaily@gmail.com. Or, if you just want to send us your stories – and pictures – for consideration, you can do that too!

Looking forward to your submissions and good luck in the Spring Semester!

You can also keep up with the School of Fashion on Facebook and Twitter (@aaufashion).

Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Net-a-Porter, simply titled Karl, launched yesterday with pop-up stores and parties in Paris, New York, Sydney, Berlin and London. In an interview with Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, Lagerfeld explained that the collection was an expression of his style and taste – he designed clothes that he likes.

The collection of mostly black and white sleek separates flew off shelves yesterday, and several designs are already sold out online. The price-point is much more accessible than Chanel, but it will still set you back a few (average price for an item is around $250). Proving that the line really is all about Karl, he even interviewed himself in a promotional video.

Which items are you coveting? Tell us in the comments below!

Follow the jump to see Karl interviewing Karl! See more…

Buenos días mis amigos!

I’m in New York for the preview of the Balenciaga Exhibition at Queen Sofía Spanish Institute tomorrow evening. It will be open to the public November 19 – February 19.

The exhibition was conceived by Oscar de la Renta, our Guest of Honour in 2000, and curated by Hamish Bowles of Vogue.

Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972), a Spaniard, had been a successful couturier in his own country.

He left in wake of the Spanish Civil War and went to London where he couldn’t find any work (really?) In 1937 he moved to Paris where his first collection was a huge success (surprise!).

Diana Vreeland once asked what he thought of a woman who bought clothes from different designers. Balenciaga replied, “I wouldn’t dress her because it shows she is merely interested in clothes and doesn’t understand fashion.”

Clearly, Americans including Pauline de Rothschild (née Potter), Mona von Bismarck (née Strader), Thelma Chrysler Foy and Doris Duke understood fashion.

Mona von Bismarck’s red dress to die for

The Texan Claudia Heard de Osborne wished to be buried in Balenciaga because “If my dear Cristóbal is waiting for me wherever we go when we die, he’ll be so pleased to see me in his dress and coat.”

You may enjoy pictures from two earlier Balenciaga exhibitions in Paris in 2006, at the Mona Bismarck Foundation in March; and at the Musée de la Mode at du Textile of the Louvre in July:

The New York exhibition will come to the de Young Museum in San Francisco from March 26 to July 4 2011. Before that, watch out for Balenciaga-mania at New York Fashion Week in February.

Written by: Gladys Perint Palmer

Click here to read more of “Picture This” by GPP

Danny Roberts makes headlines again with his portrait of famed fashion blogger, Bryanboy sitting front row at D&G’s spring/summer 2010 show in Milan alongside Vanity Fair’s Michael Roberts, Vogue’s Sally Singer, Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles:

Here’s the original pic:

Bryanboy (centr, with computer), sits between, from left, Suzy Menkes of the Herald Tribune, Michael Roberts of Vanity Fair and US Vogue’s Sally Singer, Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles, at D&G’s spring/summer 2010 show in Milan

Yes, that is friend of the Academy of Art University Suzy Menkes sitting there as well.

Bryanboy is just one of the many fashion bloggers making a name for himself in the industry. Tavi, the 13-year-old fashion prodigy has been making waves in the biz with her blog Style Rookie and Scott Schuman has been doing it for years as The Sartorialist.

And let’s not forget Fashion School Daily – we know how to throw down as well.

Check out the behind-the-scenes video that Danny made for this illustration after the jump… Read more…